Transcript GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE
GERUND AND VERBS
FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE
GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES
• When one verb follows another, the first
verb determines the form of the second.
This can be the gerund (Verb + ing) or the
infinitive (with or without to)
GERUND
• Use the gerund after certain verbs and
expressions , e.g.: admit, avoid, can’t help,
can’t stand, carry on, deny, enjoy, fancy,
finish, give up, keep on, imagine, involve,
mind, miss, postpone, practice, risk, stop,
suggest.
• Example: I fancy flying over the clouds.
I couldn’t help laughing
INFINITIVE (with to)
• Use the infinitive (with to) after certain verbs and
expressions, e.g.: agree, appear, be able to,
can’t afford, can’t wait, decide, expect, happen,
have (got), help, learn, manage, offer, plan,
pretend, promise, refuse, seem, teach, tend,
threaten, want, would like.
• Example: I want to speak to you
I can’t afford to spend that amount of money
INFINITVE (without to)
• Use the infinitive ( without to) after modal
verbs, e.g.: can may, might, must, should,
had better, would rather, and after the
verbs make and let.
• Examples: They made me eat that
horrible food.
Don’t let me go.
WARNINGS
• In the passive, make is followed by the infinitive with to.
Compare: My boss make us work hard. At school we
were made to wear uniform.
• Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or infinitive
(with to) with no change of meaning. E.g.: begin, start,
continue.
• Like, love, hate and prefer can also be used with either,
but the gerund is more common when you are talking
generally, and the infinitive when you talk about a
specific occasion. Compare: I like skiing (in general) I
like to go skiing in February or March (specific).
VERBS THAT CAN BE
FOLLOWED BY EITHER
GERUND OR INFINITIVE
(WITH TO)
WITH A CHANGE OF MEANING
REMEMBER
• Remember+infinitive = you remember first,
then you do something. Example:
Remember to lock the door when you
go out.
• Remember+gerund = you do something
then you remember it. Example: I
remember going to a rock concert as a
child.
FORGET
• Forget+infinitive = you didn’t remember to
do something. Example: Sorry I forgot to
do the homework.
• Forget + gerund = you did something and
you won’t forget it. It is more common in
the negative. Example: I’ve never forget
being in the Twin Towers.
TRY
• Try + infinitive = make an effort to do
something. Example: I tried to listen to
her but I didn’t understand.
• Try + gerund = experiment to see if
something works. Example: Try doing
yoga, this will be good for your back.
REGRET
• Regret + infinitive = you sorry about what
you are going to say. Example: We regret
to inform you that we can not offer you
the job.
• Regret + gerund = you dis something and
now you are sorry about it. Example: I
now regret having said that. I shouldn’t
have said it.